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Mavs Re-Sign Bernard James For Season

March 3rd, 2015 at 12:09pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Mavericks have re-signed Bernard James to a contract that covers the balance of the season, as Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com tweets and as the team announced via press release. The news is no surprise, since Mavs owner Mark Cuban said even before the club’s second 10-day contract with James was official that he would eventually sign him for the rest of the season. That second 10-day pact expired Monday. Neither the team nor Sneed indicate that it’s a multiyear pact, which suggests that it doesn’t contain any non-guaranteed salary for next season as such contracts often do.

The move locks Dallas into 15 contracts that run until at least season’s end, so the team would have to eat one of them to make another signing. So, that likely precludes any lingering chance that Jermaine O’Neal would join the team, and the Mavs don’t appear likely to end up with JaVale McGee, either.

Of course, Dallas didn’t mind taking the full hit for James’ guaranteed full-season minimum salary when the Mavs waived him at the end of the preseason to make room for Charlie Villanueva, who was then on a non-guaranteed pact. Still, James, a 30-year-old former Air Force Air Force staff sergeant, filled a prominent role for the banged-up Mavs on his 10-day deals, averaging 4.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game across five appearances, two of them starts. That’s significantly more minutes a night than the Happy Walters client saw in either of his first two seasons in the NBA, both of which were with the Mavs.

Heat Re-Sign Henry Walker To Second 10-Day

March 3rd, 2015 at 11:35am CST by Chuck Myron

TUESDAY, 11:35am: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.

MONDAY, 5:29pm: Walker confirmed that he’s signing another 10-day deal, as he informed reporters, including Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post (Twitter link).

12:01pm: The Heat and Henry Walker have reached agreement on a second 10-day contract, as Shams Charania of RealGM reports (Twitter link), and as a source confirms to Hoops Rumors. His first 10-day deal with the team is up at the end of today. Miami has been carrying Walker as well as Michael Beasley on 10-day contracts that occupy what would otherwise be the team’s only two open roster spots.

It’s no shock to see the Heat keep the 27-year-old Walker around after he started and played 26 minutes in Saturday’s game. He’s averaged 11.8 points in 27.8 minutes per game in his four appearances with Miami, his first NBA action since the 2011/12 season. That’s slightly more playing time than he’d seen with the Heat’s D-League affiliate, for whom he’d averaged 27.7 MPG in 17 games earlier this season.

A decision of greater consequence looms regarding another deal between Walker and the Heat, since players can only sign two 10-day deals with any one team during a single season. Miami would have to re-sign the Mike Naiditch client through at least the end of the season next time around.

Pistons Sign Quincy Miller To Second 10-Day

March 3rd, 2015 at 9:11am CST by Chuck Myron

9:11am: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.

8:40am: The Pistons and Quincy Miller have reached agreement on a second 10-day pact, league sources tell Shams Charania of RealGM (Twitter link). His first deal with the team expired last night. Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said Friday that he was leaning toward bringing the forward back for a second 10-day stint, though Friday was the same day the team sent him on D-League assignment.

The former 38th overall pick didn’t appear in an NBA game for Detroit on his first 10-day contract with the club. He displayed strong rebounding while in the D-League over the weekend, grabbing 18 rebounds in 39.5 total minutes across two games. However, he didn’t hit the boards at nearly that rate in 15 games with Sacramento’s affiliate before he signed with the Pistons, grabbing 7.6 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per contest, and he’s averaged just 6.6 rebounds per 36 minutes for his NBA career.

Detroit has 14 other players signed through the end of the season, so the roster spot the team has earmarked for Miller is its only vacancy. The 22-year-old was reportedly set to discuss a deal for the rest of the season with the Kings after inking a pair of 10-day contracts with Sacramento earlier this year, but no such deal materialized. The Pistons would have to sign Miller for at least the balance of the season if they’re to renew their relationship once his second 10-day deal expires.

Grizzlies Sign JaMychal Green To Multiyear Deal

March 2nd, 2015 at 5:25pm CST by Zachary Links

MONDAY, 5:25pm: The deal is official, the team announced via press release. It includes partially guaranteed salary beyond this season, as we passed along earlier from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

“Before first coming to Memphis, JaMychal was the top prospect in the NBA Development League, and he has impressed us both in games and in practice during his tenure with the Grizzlies,” GM Chris Wallace said in the team’s statement. “JaMychal is not only a gifted athlete with tremendous upside but he is a humble, very hard working individual who has quickly earned the respect of his new teammates.”

SUNDAY, 1:05pm: The Grizzlies and JaMychal Green have reached agreement on a three-year deal, according to Shams Charania of RealGM. Green completed his second 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on Saturday night.

One has to imagine that the final two seasons are not fully guaranteed, but details of the pact are not yet known. The deal probably called for Memphis to use a portion of its mid-level exception since that’s the only way that the deal could span three years.

Green, 24, averaged 23 PPG and 10.7 RPG in 20 games for the Austin Spurs this season. He didn’t see nearly as much burn in his four games with the Grizzlies, however, notching a total of eight points and five boards in 15 minutes of action. Green first joined the Grizzlies on February 2nd as a free agent after a 10-day stint with San Antonio.

In total, Green has inked three 10-day deals this season between the two with the Grizzlies and his previous stint with the Spurs.

Sixers Waive JaVale McGee

March 2nd, 2015 at 11:25am CST by Zachary Links

11:25am: The move is official, the team announced, adding in its statement that McGee hit waivers before the end of Sunday, so he is indeed playoff-eligible for other teams.

MONDAY, 7:48am: There’s still been no official announcement from the Sixers, though presumably the move indeed took place late Sunday, since otherwise McGee would be ineligible to appear in the playoffs for another team.

SUNDAY, 11:02pm: The Sixers will waive JaVale McGee, according to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports. Any player waived by the end of March 1st can still compete in the postseason with another team, so McGee should attract interest from winning clubs.

Earlier today, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reported that a buyout for McGee would be contingent on him finding a suitor if he were to hit free agency. No buyout was reached, but the Sixers have decided to let him go even though it appears that they won’t be saving any money in the transaction. McGee is owed $11.2MM for this season, and $12MM next season. They could spread next season’s salary through 2017/18 with $4MM payments each year using the stretch provision, but it’s unclear if they intend to do that.

McGee, a B.J. Armstrong client, has averaged 8.4 PPG and 5.5 RPG per game in seven seasons. He played in six games for Philly, averaging 3.0 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 10.2 minutes per contest.

The 27-year-old was acquired last month in a deadline-day deal from the Nuggets along with the Thunder’s 2015 first-round pick and the rights to Nigerian forward Chu Chu Maduabum in exchange for the rights to Cenk Akyol.

Over the weekend, Sixers coach Brett Brown defended McGee’s performance and had kind words to say about his locker room presence. In the past, some have been critical of McGee’s attitude.

“He’s kind of maligned in some ways to me where, you know, people view him in a certain way. He’s been a great teammate,” Brown said. “It’s not like I’m starting him. It’s not like I’m giving him 25 minutes. I can’t ask for any more in regards to how he’s fit in, and how he’s just been extremely receptive and coachable.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pistons Sign John Lucas III For Rest Of Season

February 25th, 2015 at 2:27pm CST by Chuck Myron

2:27pm: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.

FEBRUARY 25TH, 12:01pm: Detroit is indeed signing Lucas for the rest of the season, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). His second 10-day deal expired after Tuesday night’s game. He’ll represent the 14th Piston signed through season’s end now that the team has claimed Shawne Williams off waivers.

FEBRUARY 20TH: The Pistons are highly likely to sign John Lucas III for the rest of the season after the expiration of his current 10-day contract, his second with the team this season, coach/executive Stan Van Gundy told reporters today, including Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link). His 10-day deal, which actually runs for 13 days because it bridges the All-Star break, as I explained, is up after Tuesday.

The 32-year-old has played efficiently for the Pistons, averaging 4.8 points, 4.2 assists and 0.5 turnovers in 12.8 minutes per game spread over six appearances. The Pistons exchanged point guards Thursday, acquiring Reggie Jackson in a trade that sent out D.J. Augustin, so the team’s deadline moves don’t figure to affect Lucas’ spot on the depth chart.

Detroit is carrying the league-minimum 13 players, including Lucas and Brandon Jennings, who’s out for the season. The Pistons reportedly have an agreement to sign Quincy Miller to a 10-day contract to bolster their depth.

Pistons Claim Shawne Williams

February 24th, 2015 at 6:18pm CST by Eddie Scarito

6:18pm: The Pistons have claimed Williams off waivers, the team has announced.

4:27pm: The Pistons have submitted a waiver claim for Shawne Williams, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). Williams had reached a buyout arrangement with the Pelicans after he was acquired as a part of the multi-team deal that sent Goran Dragic to Miami. Detroit currently has 14 players on its roster, which means no additional move would be required to add Williams.

It’s unclear how much salary Williams relinquished in his buyout arrangement with New Orleans, but the team won’t be on the hook for any remaining funds to the player if the Pistons indeed claim Williams. Detroit would then be responsible for the remainder of the $1,227,985 the 29-year-old forward is earning this season. Williams is also under contract for 2015/16, though the $1,356,146 he is scheduled to earn is non-guaranteed.

Williams had appeared in 44 games for the Heat this season, and averaged 6.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 21.0 minutes per game. His career numbers over seven seasons are 5.8 PPG and 3.1 RPG. His career shooting percentages are .407/.345/.848.

Cavs Sign Kendrick Perkins

February 24th, 2015 at 3:40pm CST by Eddie Scarito

TUESDAY, 3:40pm: The deal is official, the team announced.

9:49pm: Perkins will sign with the Cavaliers Tuesday before the team plays in Detroit, tweets Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.

MONDAY, 4:14pm: Perkins has cleared waivers as expected, a source tells Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link), clearing the way for him to sign with the Cavs.

SATURDAY, 3:30pm: Kendrick Perkins has finalized a buyout arrangement with the Jazz and intends to sign with the Cavaliers if and when he clears waivers, Royce Young of ESPN.com reports. Perkins was dealt to the Jazz on Thursday as part of a three-way trade with the Pistons and Thunder that sent Reggie Jackson to Detroit and Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City. The buyout has not been officially announced by the player or the Jazz as of yet, though Perkins’ agent Arn Tellem has informed Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) that a buyout had been agreed upon.

The veteran big man was recruited by LeBron James to select Cleveland as his next NBA destination, Young notes. Perkins also drew heavy interest from the Bulls, Clippers, Pelicans, and Spurs, the ESPN scribe adds. The combination of a chance to contend for an NBA title along with an opportunity for playing time pushed Perkins to choose Cleveland over his other suitors, Young relays. The Cavs currently have 14 players on their roster, so no additional move would be required to sign Perkins. No contract details for Perkins have been released, but the Cavs do have a disabled player exception worth $4,852,273 for Anderson Varejao that they could use to sign Perkins for more than the minimum.

Perkins, 30, is making $9.654MM this season and would have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. In 51 appearances this season, all with the Thunder, Perkins is averaging 4.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 19.2 minutes per contest.

Clippers Sign Jordan Hamilton To 10-Day Deal

February 24th, 2015 at 2:43pm CST by Chuck Myron

2:43pm: The deal is official, the team announced.

11:05am: The Clippers plan to sign Jordan Hamilton to a 10-day contract today, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The fourth-year NBA veteran has been playing for Sacramento’s D-League affiliate, as Wojnarowski notes. He’s poised to go into one of the two open roster spots the Clips have.

Hamilton joined the D-League in November, shortly after the Jazz waived him and brought an end to a stint that lasted barely more than a week. Utah had claimed Hamilton off waivers just before opening night after the Raptors let him go following the spirited battle he put up for the roster spot that ultimately went to Greg Stiemsma. He was one of several players to work out for the Lakers earlier this season. The former 26th overall pick, who’s spent most of his NBA career with the Nuggets, initially played with the affiliate of the Grizzlies after signing with the D-League, but that club traded him to the Kings affiliate in December. Not surprisingly, his numbers have been more impressive since the swap that sent him to the up-tempo Reno Bighorns, as he’s averaged 18.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers has been targeting players who’ve gone through buyouts, but the team has come up empty in that market so far. Would-be target Tayshaun Prince ended up in a trade instead of a buyout deal, and Kendrick Perkins spurned the Clips in favor of the Cavs. The Clippers also tried to insert themselves in the running for Amar’e Stoudemire, but the Mavs quickly established themselves as front-runners before ultimately signing him.

Jazz Sign Jack Cooley To 10-Day Pact

February 24th, 2015 at 11:09am CST by Chuck Myron

TUESDAY, 11:09am: The deal is official, the team announced.

MONDAY, 4:52pm: The Jazz are signing Jack Cooley to a 10-day contract, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Cooley’s been playing for Utah’s D-League affiliate, and Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune last week identified the big man as a candidate for a 10-day deal. He’s elicited NBA interest on multiple occasions this season, as Gino Pilato of D-League Digest reported. The 23-year-old joins Bryce Cotton, who’s also reportedly set to ink a 10-day contract with the Jazz, and the apparent deal with Cooley is further confirmation that the team’s talks with draft-and-stash prospect Tibor Pleiss have run aground.

Cooley joined the D-League’s Idaho Stampede, Utah’s affiliate, shortly after the Jazz retained his D-League rights upon cutting him from NBA training camp. He’s averaged 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds in 29.1 minutes per game in his first season of D-League action after having played in Turkey last season. He went undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2013, but he’s remained on NBA radars, having participated in both the Orlando and Las Vegas summer leagues the past two years.

Signing both Cotton and Cooley would give the Jazz a full 15-man roster, though the short-term 10-day arrangements would give the team flexibility while it monitors what goes on with Pleiss. The 10-day deals eat slightly into Utah’s nearly $2.826MM in cap room, but not by much. Since both Cotton and Cooley are NBA rookies, standard 10-day contracts for both wouldn’t cost the team as much as $60K combined.